Method of storing and retrieving information

ABSTRACT

A method of storing and retrieving information which has been gathered from a plurality of documents comprises the steps of (1) randomly filming a document on a roll of film while simultaneously imprinting a film index number on the document, (2) encoding the film index number, a library access number and a document number onto a storage means to form input data, (3) sorting the input data by means of electronic data processing equipment to place the input data in order by library access number and generate a magnetic tape containing the input data in order by library access number, (4) converting the ordered magnetic tape into a strip of film containing the input data in order by library access number and (5) cutting the ordered strip of film into a plurality of microfiche forms so that a library of microfiche forms arranged by library access number has been created.

United States Patent [191 Walsh I METHOD OF STORING AND RETRIEVING INFORMATION 1/1967 Baptie.....; 355/54 Primary Examiner-John Horan i Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Fidelman, Wolffe, Leitner & l-liney [451 Dec. 10, 1974 [57 ABSTRACT A method of storing and retrieving information which has been gathered from a plurality of documents comprises the steps of (I) randomly filming a document on a roll of film while simultaneously imprinting a film index number on the document, (2) encoding the film index number, a library access number and a document number onto a storage means to form input data, (3);sorting the input data bymeans of electronic data processing equipment to place the input data in order by library access number and generate a magnetic tape containing the input data in order by library access number, (4) converting the ordered magnetic tape into a strip of film containing the input data in order by library access number and (5) cutting the ordered strip of film into a plurality of microfiche forms so that a library of microfiche forms arranged by library access number has been created.

5 Claims, 3 Dr,awing Figures DUPLEX MODE MICROFILMER CASSETTE WITH FlLM INSPECTION MOUNTING SEOUENT'AL BL|P PROCESSOR STATION STATION NUMBERING INSTALLING DOCUMENTS I. COLLECWN CASSETTE,

INDEXING FLMED STATION DOCUMENTS 32) f f EDP COMPUTER KEY EAM CARD INDEX OUTPUT BOARD PREPARATION M ICROFILMER I 38 MICROFICHE LIBRARY l METHOD OF STORING AND RETRIEVING I INFORMATION BACKGROUND O THE INVENTION strips and display the desired information. US. Pat.

Nos. 3,332,071 and 3,689,894 show examples of information storage and retrieval systems wherein the information is recorded on microfilm and assembled on encoded microfiche cards. The encoded cards are then retrieved from a storage bin and displayed in response to a keyboard input to computer memory circuitry. It is important to notethat all of these prior art systems require the use of a computer in the retrieval process.

This requirement creates a problem because computers are expensive'to operate andprogram and result in further expense in order to maintainlarge volume indices in a current secure status. Furthermore, the known systems, to be at all responsive to the needs of the user, require extensive sorting, sequencing and separation of documents and also require, splicing and labelling of microfilm cartridges. All of these operations are quite time consuming and costly. Additionally, the computerized retrieval operation of the various known systems require the employment of well trained-operators to punch in the proper input to initiate the retrieval operation. I

OBJECTS oF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is the provision of an information search and retrieval system that does not require the use of a computer in the retrieval operation,

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a search and retrieval system which for allpractical purposes can accommodate an. unlimited volume of index data in a relatively small storage area. i A further object of the present invention is the provision of a search and retrieval system which requires no manual-sorting.

A still further object of the present invention is the I provision of a search and retrieval system in which the retrieval operation is simple and inexpensive, thus obvia'ting the need for utilizing highly skilled employees.-

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a search and retrieval system wherein electronic data processing equipment is needed only for a brief period of time and can be utilized in non-peak hours, primarily for'file maintenance.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a search and retrieval system which will maintain maximum file integrity.

mation and computer memory circuitry triggered by a keyboard input to automatically retrieve thecoded 2 I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method of storing and retrieving information which has been gathered from a plurality of documents and comprises the steps of (l) randomly filming a document on a roll of film while simultaneously imprinting a film index number on the doc'ument, (2) encoding the film index number, a library access number and a document number onto a storage means to form inputdata, (3) sorting the input data bymeans of electronic data processing equipment to place the input data in order by library access number and generate a magnetic tape containing the data in order by library access number, (4) con-' verting the ordered magnetic tape into a strip of film containing the input data in order by library access number, and (5) cutting the ordered strip of film into a plurality of microfiche forms so that a library of microfiche forms arranged by library access number has been created. The library is utilized to manually retrieve filmed copies of randomly filmed documents.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying draw- Ings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the sequential arrangement of-the components included in the process of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a symbolic drawing of a portion of a roll of microfilm utilized in the process of the present inventIon;

FIG. 3 is a symbolic drawing of a microfiche index card utilized in the process of the present invention.-

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the search and retrievalprocess of the present invention will be described in .detail.

Documents 11 in random order are brought tovthe microfilming area and photographed by a duplex mode microfilmer 12 which photographs the front 42 and back 44 of each image on 'a roll of 16mm microfilm 40, preferably feetin length, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The microfilmer 12 includes a sequential numbering device which is set in such a manner that a repetitive number and gain numbers are combined to form film index numbers 46 which are imprinted in ink on each randomly filmed document 11. For example, the repetitive number could be 0777, which would be the microfilm reel number. The gain number could be 0001,

described can be used. A suitable commercial microfilmer is the Rotary Model 700, manufactured by Eastman Kodak.

' Each l-foot roll of exposed 16mm microfilm isdeveloped on a known commercial film processor 14. The processed film is then inspected at a known commercial inspection station 16 to ascertain if the film is of ac- The ordered master magnetic tape is then loaded into commercially available computer -output microfilm equipment 36 to convert the ordered magnetic tape into an ordered strip of film. The computer output mitheinvoice numbers (b) assigned to a customers transactions could also be ordered in numerical sequence under that customer's account number.

ceptable density and resolution and if there has been crofilm equipment 36 will print out directly onto any malfunction in the microfilmer not monitored by 105mm microfilm which, when cut, is converted into a audio alarm. Each processed and inspected roll that is 'OfO Ca led microfiche. deemed acceptable is mounted in a 16mm film cassette EaCh microfiche Sheet as illustrated in is at station 18. The reel'number which was ink imprinted 105mm g y 148mm Wide- The Space across the p on documents 11 i th n b i d f those d of each sheet of microfiche 50 is reserved for the visual ments and inscribed on the film cassette along with the index, which is readable W the unaided y This date of the microfilming at station 20. The cassettes are index will be the access number which, in the Example placed in order by reel number and stored at 22. Thus, OfTable is the Customer aCeOuht number Each a collection of filmed documents, in cassettes and in microfiche Sheet 50 eehtaihs approximately 200 frames order by reel-number, is created at 22 to await possible containing indexing date- Each frame 52 9h 3 microretrieval l d fiche sheet 50 will appear as a standard computer print- In order to form the microfiche library of the present Out or The o owing Table I1 iS an eXample 0f the invention, it is necessary to provide an electronic data type of information that could appear in a portion of a processor with encoded input data. This encoding is single frame 52:

TABLE 11 Illustration of Index Data Printed on 105mm X 148mm Microfiche Customer lnvoice Type Customer Film Reel Film Account No. No. Docu- Order No. No. Frame No.

ment

1-0l 12345000 1601204 1 662370 0777 0001 l01l2345000 1601204 3 662370 0777 0002 l0l12345-000 1601204 4 662370 0777 0003 1-01-12345-000 1601204 5 662370 0777v 0004 1-01- 12345000 1603796 1 671960 0786 1629 1-01- 12345-000 1603796 3 671960 0787 1921 1-01-12345-000 1603796 4 671960 0786 2612 I I 1-01-12345-000 5743100 2 0791 1541 7 preferably accomplished by keypunching. Thus, after The last image in the extreme lower right hand cormi'crofilming has been completed, the documents 11 her of each microfiche sheet 50 will generally contain are sent to the keypunch area to be indexed. Keypunch the X-Y grid coordinates of all library access numbers operator's, utilizing standard EAM punchcards 32, contained on the sheet 50. punch in on keyboard30 the pertinent index informa- A plurality of microfiche sheets 50 arranged by lition, for example: brary access number are formed into a microfiche li- 1 40 brary 38. Anyone wishing tov view a particular stored T L document 11 need'only (l) locate the proper microfiche sheet 50 in the library 38 by viewing the visible Index Example library access number, (2) view the microfiche sheet on a commercially available viewer to ascertain the apcustfmet Net "OI-12345900 propriate film reel number and film frame number, (3) b) Invoice No. 1601204 0 Type f Documem 2 obtain the proper indexed cassette, and (4) view the dlcuswmcr Purchase Order No. 662370 film in the cassette on a commercially available micro- Index 07770005 film viewer. .Thus, it is evident that no electronic data V processing equipment is required in the retrieval pro- 1 cess. In the above example, the customer account number The y. 38 ay be p ted p riodically by (a) would'constitute a library access number tobe utimerely microfilming new documents and placing them lized later in the sorting operation. The paper docuin the library y repeating the method described flbOVe- I ments 11 are stored until a check determines that both Thu new documents ay be m pr the microfilm and the indice are secure, mounted in cassettes, indexed and stored at 22 as The prepared punchcards 32 are loaded into a disc deemed convenient by the user. The new documents in an electronicdata processor 34 containing the miare then sent to the keypunch area to be indexed. crofilm indices. The electronic data processor 34 sorts Again, standard EAM punchcards 32 are punched in at the input data from the punchcards 32 and reorders the 30 to contain the pertinent index information. The data by library access number to generate a master newly prepared punchcards 32 are then stored until the magnetic tape containing the data in order by library user deems it necessary to update the microfiche liaccess number. I brary 38. This may be done weekly, monthly, etc., de- For example, the customeraccount numbers (a) pending on the needs of the user. When it is time to up- (Table' 1) could be ordered in numerical sequence and date the library 38, the newly prepared .punchcards 32 are loaded into a disc in an electronic data processer 34, as before. The master magnetic tape, created during the initial process, is then loaded into the electronic data processor 34. The processor 34 then sorts the input data from the newly processed punchcards 32 and reorders the data by library access number to generate a new master magnetic tape containing the data in order by library access number. The'new ordered master magnetic tape is then loaded, as before, into the computer output microfilm equipment 36 to form a new updated microfiche library 38. The old library may be kept for security purposes. Since this updating process may be performed at the convenience of the user,

it will generally be performed during non-peak hours of use for the electronic data processor 34. Furthermore, since electronic data processing equipment need only be used in the storage portion of the process to sort accumulated data, it may always be conveniently utilized in non-peak hours.

In addition to the advantages, described above, the

method of storing and retrieving information of the present invention, for all practical purposes, can accommodate an unlimited volume of index data in an extremely small storage area. The filming of input documents is accomplished in the least expensive mariner since no document separation or sorting is required.

While there has been described what-is at-present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it-will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made 'therein without departing from the invention. it is,

number and a docume'ntnumber onto a storage means to form input data;

c. sorting the input data by means of electronic data processing equipment to place the input data in order by library access number and generate a magnetic tape containing the input data in order by library access number;

d. converting the ordered magnetic tape into a strip of film containing the input data in order by library access number; and

e. cutting the ordered strip of film into a plurality of microfiche'forms so that a library of microfiche forms arranged by library access number has been created;

2. A method of storing and retrieving information, as

s set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

set forth in claim 1 wherein said encoding comprises keypunching the film index number, the library access number, and the document number on a punchcard to form inputdata.

6. A method of storing and retrieving information, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said microfiche forms contains aplurality'of images and wherein the last of said images contains the grid coordinates of all library access numbers contained on that microfiche fi '!& V 

1. A method of storing and retrieving information which has been gathered from a plurality of documents comprising: a. randomly filming a document on a roll of film while simultaneously imprinting a film index number on the document; b. encoding the film index number, a library access number and a document number onto a storage means to form input data; c. sorting the input data by means of electronic data processing equipment to place the input data in order by library access number and generate a magnetic tape containing the input data in order by library access number; d. converting the ordered magnetic tape into a strip of film containing the input data in order by library access number; and e. cutting the ordered strip of film into a plurality of microfiche forms so thAt a library of microfiche forms arranged by library access number has been created.
 2. A method of storing and retrieving information, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: f. developing said roll of film g. mounting said roll of film in a film cassette; and h. inscribing on said film cassette said film index number.
 3. A method of storing and retrieving information as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ordered strip of film is 105mm microfilm.
 4. A method of storing and retrieving information as set forth in claim 1 further comprising periodically repeating steps (a) through (e) in order to maintain said library in a current state.
 5. A method of storing and retrieving information as set forth in claim 1 wherein said encoding comprises keypunching the film index number, the library access number, and the document number on a punchcard to form input data. 